German company Rheinmetall plans to use Romanian cotton for a new gunpowder factory, reviving a dormant crop.
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Romania has the potential to revive cotton cultivation due to German giant Rheinmetall’s plan to purchase most raw material for a new gunpowder factory in BraÈ™ov. Currently, Romania only conducts experimental trials on cotton, while neighboring Bulgaria already possesses production and strategies to boost its capacity. Nitrocellulose, a key ingredient in gunpowder, is derived from cellulose, with cotton being the purest source. Increased demand for cotton makes its production vital for nations developing defense capabilities. Romania stopped producing cotton in the 1990s, but research institutes have shown viability for restarting the crop. Only Greece, Spain, and Bulgaria grow cotton on a large scale within the EU; European armament production heavily relies on imports from China and India. While Romania’s last recorded cotton area was 30 hectares in 1995, current efforts are experimental at Teleorman Agricultural Research Station and Buzău Plant Genetic Resources Bank. The revival is complex and long-term, requiring updated research on cultivation techniques. Farmers who adopt the crop can receive EU subsidies, similar to Bulgarian farmers who received around 763 euros per hectare in previous years. Rheinmetall’s investment aims to integrate local suppliers into its defense industry operations, positioning Romania as a regional supplier of ammunition components, although current soil and climate conditions are not ideal for competitive industrial production. Similarly, Rheinmetall is building a factory in Bulgaria, which could revitalize Bulgarian cotton farming given the country’s suitable land and existing EU subsidies that support farmers cultivating the crop.
